HOUSTON — The U18 Rapids’ first game was against De Anza Force, a team from northern California, on Monday. Both teams started conservative, and were defensive-minded for the first 18 minutes of play. Then, with a quick counterattack and precise passing, the Rapids broke through De Anza’s defensive barrier.

Josue Chavez made a well-timed run, received the ball from Karsten Hanlin and finished by taking a shot that bent the ball into the upper right side of the net.

Although De Anza went into the half without a score, thanks in part to the intensity of defensive player Chris Gurule, De Anza responded quickly in the second half with a goal by Travis Pilon.

In the 56th minute of play, Ricardo Perez, called up from the Rapids’ U16 team and a former U14 national team player, took a corner kick that De Anza didn’t clear. That gave Avery Ball an opening to pass it back to Perez, who had moved to the right flank, and Perez quickly sent the ball to the far post where Alex Braman skillfully headed it into the net to give the Rapids a 2-1 lead.

The Rapids kept that lead most of the second half, but De Anza relentlessly attacked until it was able to get a fortunate bounce off of a Rapids player’s chest to score their second goal. Though both teams pushed to get the coveted three-point win, the Rapids and De Anza left with single points each for the tie.

Brian Crookham, who serves as the director of operations in the Rapids’ Development Academy, is the team’s coach. Crookham and his squad next play at 8 p.m. Wednesday against North Carolina Fusion. To be guaranteed an opportunity to play in the much-coveted berth of the final championship game, the Rapids must now win their next two games.

Rapids’ players selected for this traveling team game:Starting lineup and substitutes in the first game denoted by asterisks.